Andrew Bogut has waded into the latest controversy surrounding Liz Cambage, saying that the former Opals star had said far worse than what was publicised over the weekend.
Cambage sensationally quit the Opals squad just a few days before the Olympics began, citing health reasons – but it also followed an ugly incident in a pre-tournament warm-up game.
On ABC yesterday, former teammate Jenna O’Hea verified the rumours that Cambage said “go back to your third world country” to Nigerian players during a scrimmage before the Games.
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Speaking with Ben Fordham on 2GB on Monday morning, the ex-Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors star said it was even more shocking than what the public had been told.
“You’ve just got the PG version, there was much more than that – I’m just glad someone’s come out and said it,” Bogut said.
“It was beyond despicable.
“There’s much more in there that you can’t say on radio … there’s some other words that you can never repeat, that I’d never even say, to be honest with you.”
The pair have repeatedly engaged in arguments online, including speculation from the former NBA star about why Cambage missed the Olympics, and him rejecting her claims about a lack of diversity within the Australian Olympic contingent.
The mud-slinging dates all the way back to the Rio Olympics, when Cambage said Bogut “might learn something” before calling him an “ignorant goose” over a tweet in July 2016, in which he poked fun at those protesting against police brutality in Melbourne.
“I’m sure it’s someone else’s fault as to why she said it,” he scoffed when asked if Cambage should apologise for the comments.
Bogut added that there needed to be “serious conversations” about the hypocrisy of certain people claiming to be bullied, discriminated against or left out – only to do the same to others.
The relationship between Cambage and Australian basketball looks irreparable, with O’Dea responding with a flat “no” when asked if the 30-year-old would ever play for the Opals again.
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